Day 103 "The Lure of Riches"

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous was an American television series that aired in syndication from 1984 to 1995. The show featured the extravagant life styles of wealthy entertainers, athletes and business moguls. It was hosted by Robin Leach for the majority of its run. The show focused its attention on how the very rich lived: their houses, cars, yachts, travel, etc. For the people who watched it, it was an escape to see how the 1-2% of the world live. Not too sure how beneficial it prove to be for us in the long run.

Man has sacrificed many things as he has sought after riches, and man has been seeking after such riches for a long, long time. Power, happiness, and pleasure are just a few indirect desires that has driven man to seek after his treasure even at the detriment of others. God's word has a lot to say about money, but especially when it comes to the greed factor.

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

1 Timothy 6:10

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

Money needed and desired pursuant to the right motivation can prove beneficial to many people. Consider the steward. The steward does not take ownership of the property, only to manage the property, or money, for the benefit of others. Under God's provision for us, none of what we have should be considered ours,owned by us, but rather entrusted to us as good stewards to perform and do as God's will permits and instructs us. The greater the control and ownership over one's belongings, the greater the fear of losing it, causing us to take protective measures to protect that which we would consider as "ours." The greater the value, the greater the burden to protect it. And the more we listen to the sounds of this world, the fainter will be the prompting of the Spirit to lead us along in this life. Jesus didn't want us to be tied down and so concerned about this world, a world in which our lives will pass quickly like a "puff of smoke." On several occasions he instructed his disciples towards the kingdom to come, things which are eternal, and not to be so concerned about all the things which are merely temporary and fleeting.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to

you." Matthew 6:33

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is

temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

I believe what Jesus is trying to tell us is that the more we concern ourselves with this world and spending our in time in pursuit of things for our own pleasure and enjoyment, the harder it will be to be concern for the well-being of people around us. Jesus spoke little, if at all, about achieving worldly comforts and recognition. He did, however, spend the majority of his time trying to teach us about God and about God's love for us. If you listen closely to Jesus' words, I think you will hear him directing us to the concept of love and exhorting us to live out our lives in pursuit of seeking to love God and to love one another. I believe, in the end, this will be how are lives will be measured-by how we were able to love.

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"This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one

another." 1 John 3:11

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:11-12

Here is a question worth asking yourself, "If I put the interest and well-being of others before my own, what sin would I still commit against someone else? Food for thought!

In his love, I'll see you back here tomorrow....

"Carpe Momentum in Love" (Seize the moment in love)